Open burning to be restricted beginning May 30

BC Wildfire Service has issued restrictions for Category 2 open fires in the Coastal Fire Centre, which includes Squamish. Effective at noon on Thursday, May 30, Category 2 open burns will be prohibited throughout the Coastal Fire Centre's jurisdiction to reduce wildfire risks and protect public safety.

Category 2 fires are not permitted within the District of Squamish boundaries at any point, however they will now be banned outside of District boundaries due to the conditions.

The prohibition does not apply to campfires that are a half-metre high by a half-metre wide or smaller, or to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes.

A poster explaining the different categories of open burning is available online here.

Specifically, this prohibition applies to:

• The burning of any material (piled or unpiled) smaller than two metres high and three metres wide;
• The burning of stubble or grass over an area less than 2,000 square metres;
• The use of fireworks, firecrackers, sky lanterns, burning barrels or burning cages of any size or description; and
• The use of binary exploding targets (e.g., for rifle target practice).

The prohibition applies to all public and private land unless specified otherwise, and will remain in effect until the public is otherwise notified. A map of the affected areas is available online here.

The Coastal Fire Centre covers all of the area west of the height of land on the Coast Mountain Range from the U.S.-Canada border at Manning Park, including Tweedsmuir South Provincial Park in the north, the Sunshine Coast, the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and Haida Gwaii.

To report a wildfire, unattended campfire or open burning violation, call 1 800 663-5555 tollfree or *5555 on a cellphone. For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories visit bcwildfire.ca

May 28, 2019